favorite desserts

Well, I am on a (surprisingly successful) diet, and I only get to eat a dessert every week or two (instead of ... well every day, which was my previous diet). I have to be picky. Because I am on this diet for health reasons, not just for vanity (although losing some weight feels nice), I am motivated. I decided that I should use my quota for only the best desserts in town; so I am looking for some kind of round up. Please help this dieting, insulin resistant, pre-diabetic chowhounder to satisfy her sweet tooth without getting into a sugar overdose for no good reason. What are your "i ate it and it was worth the insulin spike" desserts in town? Also, it there are any, what are the guilt free, lower glycemic index desserts in town, except for a perfectly ripe mango, papaya or a pint of July strawberries?

My roundup:

-Prune/phylo dessert with candied oranges and armagnac ice cream at P'tit Plateau: this is the best earthy/winter dessert ever created. Everytime I eat it, I realize how prunes are the most underrated species in the whole chow universe.-Wavel prune paczki: see any pattern here?-Premier Moisson lemon tart-Plain natas from Bela Vista-Vanilla-lavender cake from Cocoa Locale-Hot chocolate with piment d'espelette from Festin du Babette.

These are what came to my mind when I want some no nonsense comforting desserts. Anything else?

Just back from dinner at Bazaar. Didn't notice whether it's still a ridiculous $3 like at the old location but the mignardise plate -- plates actually -- with the world's lightest pistachio halva, a baby baklava and a puddle of pomegranate molasses with a squiggle of tahini and a couple of mini (as in silver dollar-sized) pitas is as delicious as ever, and the cardamom and orange-scented crème caramel was exquisite as well as big enough to be shared by two. Rumi's Afghan pudding (made by Reema of Cocoa Locale) is worth the detour. Some of Au Cinquième Péché's desserts can be weird but fabulous. Haven't had it in its brasserie incarnation but Brunoise's vanilla panna cotta with basil syrup and passion fruit pulp had a cult following (it's also pretty easy to recreate at home). Pop should probably also be on your list.

First of all, congratulations that your diet is going well! Keep up the good work. I think your philosophy of a special treat 1-2 times a week is very smart.

Secondly, your list is pretty fantastic already. I love all those things, the only one I haven't tried is the prune paczki.

I'm going to try to focus my list on desserts that are either not bad from a glycemic index point of view, or that come as a small but satisfying quantity that allows you to enjoy and be satisfied, but is not an oversized, excessive dessert that should be shared by 4 people instead of being scoffed down by one.

- Chocolate covered fresh blueberries by the Peres Trappistes, available in August only. These are actually pretty healthy, as they have no other significant ingredients. And both ingredients are "good for you" - all the antioxidants and such. The only challenge is not eating the entire box in one sitting. I recommend slitting it into small portions. If you sit down with the box, you'll be surprised how many you can eat in one go.

- Caramel au fleur de sel in a buttercrunch form, covered in dark chocolate at Genevieve Grandbois. They come in a small package, so if you only buy one small bag, you won't overdo it. Fabulous.

If you like chocolate covered baklavas... there is a greek patisserie/chocolaterie in VSL (strip mall on Poirier and Grenet), I believe the name is Chocolats St-Laurent (?), that has several varieties, i.e. pistachio, almond, walnut end even white chocolate!!! They are pure heaven and you can totally portion control. The owner is super nice and always gives you one to try while there.